Explore the various methods for moving and rotating components, including dragging, using the triad, and setting the options in the PropertyManager. Explore the options for detecting collisions between components. Calculate the minimum clearance distance between components. Move and rotate a component by dragging, using the triad, or using the options in the PropertyManager. Identify the clearance between options when moving components. Detect collisions between moving components and other components.
Use bill of materials (BOM) tables to call out the components of an assembly. Bill of materials can be modified in many ways and new table templates can be generated to save customizations. Tabulated bill of materials can list information about multiple configurations within the same table. Create a bill of materials for an assembly. Modify a bill of materials table to add and reorder column. Save a bill of materials as a template. Create a tabulated bill of materials.
Mirror Component creates opposite-hand, but otherwise identical, versions of parts or subassembies. Specify which components are mirrored and which are purely copied (i.e. fasteners, which should not be mirrored). The geometry of a mirrored component changes to create a truly mirrored version, known as an \"opposite-hand\" version. Mirror components about an assembly plane. Create mirrored versions of parts in an assembly. Create opposite-hand versions of parts.
Create a spring using a sweep feature defined in the context of an assembly. Then, animate the spring by adding a linear motor in MotionManager. Create an animation. Model a spring using an in-context sweep. Add a linear motor to stretch and compress the spring. Understand the impact of rebuild errors on animations.
Take advantage of selected global and local settings, techniques, and tips that can lead to faster assemblies. Examine helpful settings in System Options and Document Properties. Understand how to work with large assembly FeatureManager design trees. Learn a few tips to speed up view manipulations.
This is an introduction to some of the assembly techniques that can further reduce the time required to open and edit your large assembly. Learn the advantages of using assembly techniques. Examine some details about each technique. Understand how the testing tool Assembly Visualization can help you find components that need to be simplified.
Compare opening an assembly using each of the three assembly modes: Resolved, Lightweight, and Large Design Review. Discover the differences between each mode. Examine the best use for each mode and how to use them. Understand the options when switching between modes.
Understand the characteristics of a large assembly, how SOLIDWORKS opens an assembly, and what can cause it to slow down. Also, a quick look at some possible solutions. Explore what makes a large assembly. Learn the sequence of steps SOLIDWORKS uses to open an assembly. Discover some common large assembly slowdowns.
Create flexible tubing routes between existing components in an assembly. Edit tubing routes to accomodate tubing clips and cylindrical envelopes. Use the Repair Route command and the Re-route Spline option to resolve any errors. Create flexible tube routes. Edit routes using tubing clips and envelopes.
Make changes to route geometry using 3D sketches. Edit routes by deleting, trimming, and adding sketch geometry. Delete existing fittings and add replacements fittings. Edit existing routes. Delete existing fittings. Add replacement fittings.
Automatically create a piping route between connections. You choose from one of many possible routes. You can specify that the route goes around model geometry or through reference geometry. Drag and drop flanges. Create a new piping route. Create route geometry using auto-route. View multiple route solutions. Evaluate route solutions.
Select components according to their position relative to assembly envelopes and hide, suppress, or delete the selected components. Utilize assembly envelopes as reference components that are ignored by bills of materials and mass property calculations. Convert components to assembly envelopes. Select components based on their position relative to an assembly envelope. Hide or show components selected using an assembly envelope.
Create smart components by selecting components and features in a defining assembly. Then, insert smart components into an assembly to add the components and create the features. Create smart components in a defining assembly. Insert smart components into an assembly to create components and features. Select reference faces for the features of a smart component.
Add each of the six mechanical mate types to control the degrees of freedom of components when designing mechanisms. Mate a cylinder, plane, or point to a series of tangent faces with a cam follower mate. Limit the rotational movement between two components with a hinge mate. Move one component linearly to move another component rotationally with a rack and pinion mate. Add a pitch relation between the rotation of one component and the translation of another with a screw mate. Rotate two components relative to one another with a gear mate or a universal joint mate.
The linear coupler mate links the translation of one component to the translation of another component. The translation occurs along an axis you define relative to the assembly origin or a reference component. Select the faces and reference components to define a linear coupler mate. Set the ratio of motion of one component relative to another.
Constrain a point or a vertex of a component to a path in an assembly. Then, control the pitch, yaw, and roll of the component as it moves along the path. Specify the entities for a path mate. Edit a path mate to control pitch, yaw, and roll of the component.
The Copy with Mates command copies existing components along with their mates. New references can be selected for the new mates to allow for modified placement. Use the Copy with Mates command to create new instances of components along with their mates. Understand when mate references for the copied mates are repeated. Understand when some of the copied mates require new mate references.
The Belt/Chain assembly feature links idlers, pulleys, or sprockets together to achieve the intended rotation of several components simultaneously. Optionally, you can create a belt or chain component part. Select edges of pulleys and idlers for a belt/chain assembly feature. Set the properties of a belt/chain assembly feature.
The Hole Series feature adds holes to multiple components in an assembly. Unlike a typical assembly feature, the Hole Series adds part-level features to the individual components. Create a Hole Series feature in an assembly. Create a Hole Series feature from an existing hole feature. Understand the difference between the Hole Series feature and a typical assembly feature.
Learn the basics of SOLIDWORKS assembly design, by opening an assembly and adding components and mates. Open an existing assembly. Insert components into an assembly. Mate components using common types. Understand degrees of freedom and show assembly motion. Open components from the assembly. Hide and show components.
Use the Tooling Split command to create interlock surfaces around the perimeter of the parting surfaces to create mold tooling. Save mold bodies and create assemblies of molds. Create assembly files for mold from part files. Create exploded assembly view of mold. Create interlocking surfaces on molds using the tooling split command.
Use drawing view commands that are specific to working with assembly models including broken out section views, alternate position views, and exploded views. Use drawing view properties to represent assembly configurations. Create a broken-out section view to show internal components of the assembly. Create an alternate position view using an existing or a new configuration. Create an exploded assembly drawing view.
A SpeedPak configuration improves performance of large assemblies by simplifying the assembly without losing its file references. Create SpeedPak configurations. Use SpeedPak configurations in higher level assemblies. Understand the benefits and limitations of using a SpeedPak configuration.
